Two Days. Generations of Notre Dame Rowers decend upon South Bend.
Alumni gathered from every corner of the country to welcome our new coaching staff, connect with current student-athletes, alumni, and celebrate an extraordinary period of growth for the program. The evening also served as the official launch for Pulling Together: A History of Notre Dame Rowing, The Early Years Through the ’70s, Volume One, authored by one of the club’s founding coaches, Michael F. Carroll.
FONDR Board Chair William S. "Billy" Mackay ’80 delivered an inspiring address reflecting on the club’s heritage before passing the torch to incoming leadership: Bart Richards ’91, former ND Rowing Club President and Lightweight 8 alumnus. The evening featured several major honors:
2026 Team MVP: Presented by John Younger ’83 to Aidan Kiley ’26 (Chevy Chase, MD). A proven boat-mover with numerous podium finishes—including gold in the ACRA National Championship 8+ in 2024—Aidan completed his degree in Neuroscience at Notre Dame and is currently attending medical school at Yale University.
The Buccini Award: Presented by John Younger to Clete Graham. In the fall of 1973, Graham stepped up to build Notre Dame’s newly formed women’s crew, establishing a culture of solidarity that produced the first undefeated women’s team in university history. More than fifty years later, he continues to coach these women at major regattas like the Head of the Charles and the Head of the Schuylkill.
